There’s nothing more meta than a writer who writes about a writer. It’s the world we live in and, often, the most convenient place to acquire material. It’s also exhilarating, and somewhat terrifying, to imagine that you could be your own protagonist. In these seven books, some old and some new, the main characters—who are journalists or authors by trade—manage to entangle themselves in spellbinding adventures. So, if you’re looking for a thrill ride this summer, consider adding one of these must-reads to your list.
Fractured by Catherine McKenzie
When author Julie Prentice is pursued by a stalker after the release of her bestselling novel, she decides to move her family to the Mount Adams district of Cincinnati, where they don’t know anyone. But she soon realizes that her new beginning isn’t what it seems and that the people she believed were her friends are more likely enemies in disguise.
#FashionVictim by Amina Akhtar
One day you’re in, and the next day you’re dead. Words to live by (or not) for fashion editor Anya St. Clair, who almost has everything she’s ever wanted. If she could only be the perennial stylish, Sarah Taft’s, best and only friend. It’s essential if she wants to win the promotion they’re contending for. The question is, will the competition be fair or fatal?
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Travel writer, Lo Blacklock, has just been tasked with a dream assignment, a week-long journey in the North Sea, on the luxury cruise ship, the Aurora. Yet, amidst her glistening surroundings, Lo is plagued by a dark nightmare—that one of the passengers has been thrown overboard. The only issue is that no one is missing and she’s forced to reconcile her increasing discomfort with the idyllic nature of her surroundings.
True Fiction by Lee Goldberg
Recruited by the CIA to concoct feasible terrorist scenarios, bestselling thriller writer, Ian Ludlow, goes on the run when, years later, one of these circumstances—a passenger jet crashing onto the beaches of Waikiki—plays out in real life. He knows it wasn’t an accident. He knows who’s behind it. And, for those reasons, he’s a moving target. But, the problem is, he doesn’t know what the resolution will be. Can he survive long enough to figure it out?
Misery by Stephen King
This iconic psychological thriller tells the story of Paul Sheldon, a bestselling novelist, who’s “number-one fan” holds him hostage after he’s crippled in a gruesome car accident. While you may remember the movie adaption with James Caan and Kathy Bates, who won an Academy Award for Best Actress, the book is equally haunting and will keep you captivated long past your bedtime.
The Secrets You Keep by Kate White
What do brutal murders, disturbing nightmares, and a shady husband have in common? They’re all key ingredients in this gripping novel about Bryn Harper, a successful self-help author, whose life is unraveling around her. Add in unexpected twists, unsettling truths, and a tightly executed plot, and this page-turner is a recipe for delicious disaster.
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll
At 28-years-old, Ani FaNelli has it all. Or so it seems. She’s a writer at a glossy women’s magazine and she has a handsome (and wealthy) fiancé, who adores her. Yet she can’t help but feel like she’s living a lie, as she continues to suppress the cruelty of her past. Torn between censoring the secrets that could destroy her and the impulse to break her silence, Ani’s trajectory is, at once, heartbreaking, relatable, and inspiring.
The Last Time I Saw You by Liv Constantine
On the heels of the high-society murder of Dr. Kate English’s mother Lily, Kate’s estranged best friend and famous author, Blaire Barrington, returns to help figure out whodunit. As Blaire pursues the investigation, without consent from the police department, and Kate continues to be harassed by the killer, tensions mount and it becomes obvious that anyone could be guilty.
The Plot is Murder by V.M. Burns
Samantha Washington has two dreams—to own a mystery bookstore and to develop a mystery novel that takes place in England between the wars. As plans for her bookstore begin to evolve, the dead body of a shifty realtor is found in her backyard and the police name Samantha as a suspect. Desperate to write her own ending, she enlists the help of her grandmother, along with a handful of vibrant characters, to outsmart the killer.
